David Marius Bressoud, 2009-2010 MAA President

David Marius Bressoud, a mathematics professor at Macalester College, is the current past president of the MAA.

Presidency: 2009-2010

As president, Bressoud wants to rethink how to teach undergraduate mathematics more effectively, especially in light of the increasing numbers of students taking calculus in high school. He wants to encourage collaboration between mathematics and the biological and social sciences.

Bressoud sees Project NExT as a model for using technology to facilitate communication and information access. Beginning January 1, 2010, the MAA has offered an all-electronic membership option.

Bressoud writes a "From the President" column in MAA FOCUS. (All links are to pdf files.)

Bressoud joined the Pennsylvania State University faculty in 1977 and taught there until joining Macalester College in 1994. He chaired the Macalester Department of Mathematics and Computer Science from 1995 through 2001, and he has been a DeWitt Professor of Mathematics since 1996.

Bressoud also loves talking about mathematics. He has given many talks and done a set of 24 half-hour lectures on the history of mathematics for the Teaching Company. Bressoud received the MAA Distinguished Teaching Award (Allegheny Mountain Section) and was an MAA Pólya Lecturer. He is a recipient of Macalester's Thomas Jefferson Award.